T10 Cricket League to get under way in UAE with two new teams added for 2018

Season two of the T10 Cricket League – the world’s first 10-over cricket league sanctioned by the International Cricket Council – will get under way in the UAE later this year with the addition of two new teams taking the total number of participants to eight for 2018.

The team draw took place earlier this week, with the Karachians and Northern Warriors the two newest sides to join the competition.

They will play alongside last year’s inaugural T10 League champions the Kerala Kings, as well as runners-up the Punjabi Legends and Maratha Arabians, Bengal Tigers, Rajputs and Pakhtoons.

The teams have been drawn in to two groups to fight it out in the second season which will take place from November 23 to December 2 – UAE National Day – at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

The tournament will take place amid the backdrop of recent recognition by the ICC, the global governing body of cricket, that makes it the world’s first 10-over format league.

Season one of the T10 Cricket League was a runaway success, drawing large crowds for games at Sharjah Cricket Stadium and watched by fans across the GCC, South Asia and even parts of Africa.

The draw took place earlier this week.

The league was launched by T10 Sports Management to popularise the game of cricket in its shortest format, with two teams batting it out in just 10 overs – or just 60 balls – as exciting games conclude within two hours and thrill the crowds.

“The T10 Cricket League is gaining ground with the formal recognition of the International Cricket Council and the interest shown by the stakeholders that encouraged us to add two new teams to the league,” Nawab Shaji Ul Mulk, chairman of the T10 Cricket League and T10 Sports Management, said.

“The team draw is a testimony to the growing popularity of not only the T10 Cricket League but also the game of cricket, which can now be played in less than two hours.

“This year’s T10 Cricket League will help expand and popularise the game of cricket further. We see this as a growing movement and I urge all to join this and help take the game further.”

The team draw will be followed by a player’s draw which takes place in a few weeks’ time and will see the world’s top cricketers being selected by the eight teams – from a pool of cricketing legends.

England’s limited overs captain Eoin Morgan led the Kings to victory in season one, with aggressive West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard also in the side.

They defeated a Legends side led by skipper Shoaib Malik, New Zealand batsman Luke Ronchi and England bowler Liam Plunkett.

Salman Iqbal, president of the T10 Cricket League, said: “Cricket is being re-invented in the UAE and the T10 Cricket League is at the forefront of this journey.

“We are getting a large crowd joining us in this great journey where we hope to break new grounds with many more surprises to come.”